Ruthanne | Heart of the Matter

July 29, 2010 By Ruthanne 6 Comments

A lot of my memories growing up center around food. Some might say, some things never change. I might agree.

As a child, during the summer months, I always looked forward to visiting the Merrow family. Mr. Merrow could pick me up by my ears without it hurting (that feat always impressed me). Mrs. Merrow made the sweetest tea I’ve ever tasted in my life. It could cool you down on a balmy, summer day and set your sweet tooth to overload.

My favorite thing she would whip up in her kitchen were her Chocolate Chip Pan Cookies. She would always serve them hot out of the oven and smothered with cold, ice cream.

Mmmmmm. It takes me back just thinking about it.

Here’s the recipe for all of you, like me, who love to make some memories:

Chocolate Chip Pan Cookies

~ My dear friend, Mrs. Merrow

Pre-heat oven to 350.

Cream:

1 C butter

Add:

1 C brown sugar
1 C granulated sugar

Beat until creamy.

Beat in:

2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla

Sift and stir in:

2 1/4 C flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda

Stir in:

1 C chopped nuts
1 C semi-sweet chocolate chips

Press into a jelly-roll pan and bake about 20 minutes or until golden brown on top.

Ruthanne Genco has been homeschooling for just over a decade. She’s passionate about many things ~ the Lord, her principal and students (mother to four boys and a girl), photography, baking and really good coffee. You can find her blogging at www.eclecticwhatnot.com where she shares a few random thoughts and loads of pictures.

May 21, 2010 By Ruthanne 5 Comments

When nothing seems to be going right, every problem seems too hard or it seems like school will take forever {my children’s words}, this is normally due to something we call the Grouchy Hungries.

I’ve learned the hard way that snacks are an absolute necessity in our home. They are what make or break our school day. Being consistent on snacks means having happier, more productive children.

Some days, we have goldfish or crackers. Other days, I cut up fresh fruit. Sometimes I just plain forget. Only to realize too late, as the grouchiness begins to surface and every assignment in school appears insurmountable.

When I have time, I bake up a large batch of granola. It’s always a hit and easy for them to snack on while still working on academics.

I know there are lots of different granola recipes floating around, but this is one of my favorites. It was given to me several years ago. The ingredients are what you would normally have on hand and I love how simple it is to put together.

(1) Pre-heat oven to 350. Spray a 9×13-inch plan with non-stick spray.

(2) In a large mixing bowl, combine:

1/4 cup wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups rice crispy cereal
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup dried fruit
3/4 cup almonds {or another nut of your choice}

(3) In a saucepan, melt:

1/2 cup butter
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup honey

(4) Add butter mixture to large mixing bowl. Stir until combined. Pour into 9 x 13 inch pan.

(5) Bake 18 – 20 minutes or until golden brown. Take it out half way through and stir it.

Whether you bake up granola or hand out crackers, snacks will have a positive impact on your school day!

Ruthanne has been homeschooling for just over a decade. She’s passionate about many things ~ the Lord, her principal and students (mother to four boys and a girl), photography, baking and really good coffee. You can find her blogging at www.eclecticwhatnot.com where she shares a few random thoughts and loads of pictures.

March 8, 2010 By Ruthanne 3 Comments

May your thoughts be as glad as the shamrocks.
May your heart be as light as a song.
May each day bring you bright happy hours,
That stay with you all year long.

St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner. Are you going to do anything special to commemorate the day? I’ve found lots of fun crafts and book recommendations floating around the blogosphere, as well as some adorable baked goodies.

These cookies don’t really fall into the adorable category, but they certainly fall into the simple one.

I started out with our family’s favorite cookie recipe, one I’m sure most everyone is familiar with ~ the Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe.

After I combined the butter, sugars, eggs and vanilla, I added several drops of green food coloring. Add as many drops as it takes to get the color you’re wanting.

Just be sure you don’t overdo it. If you add too much, your dough will change consistency.

Then, I added in the flour, baking soda and salt.

Instead of adding all semi-sweet chocolate morsels, I decided to use half white chocolate ~ to give it the cookies a little more oomph.

Serve them warm with a tall glass of cold milk. Your children will thank you!

February 28, 2010 By Ruthanne 3 Comments

Have you set any goals for the New Year? I want to encourage you to set a goal for 2010 which will have positive ramifications for you and your children – reading the classics.

Several years ago, I embarked on this mission. For years, I had sensed a gaping hole in my formal education. I would watch a movie to then learn it was based off a classic novel I had never heard of. I would be in conversations where others were referencing something out of a classic work and feel completely out of the loop. It would’ve be easy to blame the system in which I was educated, yet I knew that wouldn’t solve anything. The buck stops with me. I decided to take action. My mission was to educate myself by reading through the classics. My greatest motivation was my children. My desire was and is to be able to credibly teach them about the great works and their writers.

Here are a few things I’ve learned in the process:

~ Gather book lists.

When I started out, I had absolutely no idea where to start. I stumbled upon Barnes & Noble’s Classics and simply started picking books at random. They have a great section on their website devoted entirely to the classics. I realize there are books out there you can purchase with book lists included, however I don’t think it’s necessary to buy anything. Use Google, Barnes & Noble or another on-line bookstore to compile a list.

~ Ask for recommendations.

Friends are fabulous resources! Ask a few of yours what some of their favorite classics are. People love to share about books that have shaped and inspired them. Here are a few of my favorites {okay – more than a few}:

Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
The Scarlet Pimpernel by Emmuska Orczy
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
The Scottish Chiefs by Jane Porter
Michael Strogoff by Jules Verne
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
1984 by George Orwell
Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

~ Set realistic goals.

Sometimes when I set a goal, my initial excitement clouds my judgment. I set myself up for failure by setting my goals far too high only to get discouraged and give up. As homeschool moms, we already have a plateful. We have tests to grade, papers to read, laundry to conquer and meals to cook. Start out small and build up. If you’ve never read any of the classics and decide to read just one this year, that’s one more than you’ve ever read. Don’t let a stack of hopefuls pile up, with no one to read them but the cat…

~ Read up on the author.

Gathering some background information on the author will give you a glimpse into his life and worldview, which will in turn provide context for the book. This doesn’t need to be a big production, simply look up your author on Wikipedia and spend a few minutes perusing.

~ Persevere.

One of the many things I love about the classics is the romance and antiquity of the language. These authors had a thousand different phrases to describe the sunset. People simply do not speak like that today. Our language is typically abbreviated and non-romantic. However, the same thing that makes the classics so endearing can also be a catalyst to frustration. A classic novel is going to read differently than a modern day novel {which I dearly love to read as well}. I think of it in terms of steak versus cotton candy. You’re going to have to chew on the classics for a while and then ponder them during the period of digestion. Don’t get discouraged if it takes you awhile to get into a classic. It could take getting to the seventh or eighth chapter before the plot grabs you.

~ Find a fellow bibliophile.

Discussing a good book with a friend is a great way to cement what you’ve learned—as well as being fun and encouraging. Find someone who is passionate about good literature and see if she would be willing to be a sounding board. Maybe it would be possible for you both to read the book and meet over coffee. I love any excuse to get together for coffee!

Go ahead and dive into a new goal for the year. I believe you’ll find reading the classics a worthy endeavor. And if you’ve already started on this journey, I would love to hear what your favorites are!

Ruthanne has been homeschooling for just over a decade. She’s passionate about many things ~ the Lord, her principal and students (mother to four boys and a girl), photography, baking and really good coffee. You can find her blogging at www.eclecticwhatnot.com where she shares a few random thoughts and loads of pictures.

January 25, 2010 By Ruthanne 10 Comments

Valentine’s Day doesn’t look much different than any other day in our house. We still have a full school load as well as chores and other responsibilities. However, I do try to fit in a couple of things to make the day special. One of which is to bake some kind of treat.

This year I’ve decided to make some homemade Hostess Cupcakes ~ Valentine’s Day style.

This treat is sure to be a hit with both you and your children! You’ll love the simplicity and they’ll love how yummy it is.

Tinted Frosting

Step 1: Bake up a batch of cupcakes using your favorite recipe.

Step 2: Using either canned frosting or homemade frosting, tint a large portion pink and leave about 1/4 cup white. Place about half of the pink frosting {set the other half aside for now} into a decorator bag with Wilton tip #12 and do the same with the white frosting using Wilton tip #5. If you don’t have any Wilton tips, don’t worry! Simply place your frosting in Ziploc bags and cut the tip off of one of the corners.

Cupcakes

Step 3: Using the bag of pink frosting, sink the tip down into the cupcake ~ until it covers the tip completely. Start squeezing and slowly raise the bag up. Continue to squeeze until the frosting is level with the top of the cupcake. Run a butter knife over the top to make the filling even with the top of the cupcake.

Alternate-Step 3: If you don’t have any Wilton tips or you just want more filling in the center, cut out a cone shape from the middle of each cupcake and fill ~ smoothing out the top when finished.

Dip the Tops

Step 4: Take the other half of pink frosting and microwave it just until it is just slightly runny ~ about 20 or 30 seconds. Dip the tops of each cupcake into the frosting and set onto a cooling rack.

Step 5: Allow the cupcakes to set ~ about 10 minutes.

Step 6: Using the bag of white frosting, draw squiggly lines on the top of each cupcake.

Step 7: Sit back and enjoy your children’s excitement!

December 14, 2009 By Ruthanne 6 Comments

Does sitting down with your child to edit his writing strike terror in your heart? Do you have visions that resemble something close to a dog fight? Editing your child’s writing does not have to be an emotionally charged event. Actually, I believe you can create a nurturing environment that creates a love of learning. Here are a few of the things I’ve learned over the years to aide in the editing process:

1) Be aware of differing writing personalities.

Your child’s writing will look and sound different than your own writing. Be sure not to impose your writing personality on your child. Allow his personality to shine through. I think this can be the most challenging aspect of the editing process, but it’s well worth the pay off. Your child wants to know his thoughts and feelings that come through in his writing have intrinsic value. As your child ages and matures, so will his writing personality and style. Guide him into the writer he is destined to become.

2) Be sensitive.

Put yourself in the place of your child. Remember, he worked diligently and poured himself into his writing. Immediately pointing out each mistake or being insensitive will not provide incentive for him to become a better writer. This leads into number 3.

3) Praise, praise, praise.

Always find something positive to say about your child’s writing. In fact, make it a priority to say one positive thing for every mistake that needs correcting. You want to ensure your child feels encouraged to keep trying and that he will succeed.

4) Keep spelling separate.

I have a child who struggles with spelling. She gets discouraged when she sees red all over her writing and most of it is from misspelled words. Instead of spending time on all the spelling mistakes during the editing process, I make note of words that are misspelled and work them into her spelling lesson.

5) Limit the focus.

If there are multiple mistakes, choose to tackle one mistake at a time – perhaps one a day. If you cover too much material, it will be overwhelming and little of it will be retained. At the end of the school year, if your child only has 12 papers in his portfolio, but they are well-written and well-thought-out, then it’s worth the time it takes to go through the editing process slowly.

Writing can be a difficult yet rewarding skill to learn. You can turn the editing process into a haven where you correct and guide your child into becoming a wonderful writer. Now, go, edit and inspire your child.

October 26, 2009 By Ruthanne 15 Comments

Are you intimidated by crafts? Do you struggle for ideas? Hate the mess? Feel like you can’t justify the added expense?

Incorporating craft time into your school day does not have to be frustrating or break the bank. In fact, it can be fun with just a few simple tips!

(1) Google is your friend.

If the curriculum you’re using does not include suggestions for crafts and the thought of coming up with crafts on your own scares the daylight out of you, then use Google for some ideas. I took this route frequently last year because I wasn’t thrilled with a lot of the suggestions in the curriculum we were using. The internet has a treasure trove of ideas just waiting to be found.

(2) Print out instructions.

After you’ve picked the craft you would like to do, print out the list of supplies and instructions. It’s much easier to print it out than to go back and try to find the same site later if you’re unsure of something. Believe me – I’ve learned from experience!

(3) Schedule multiple crafts together

If you’re curriculum suggests several crafts during the week and/or month, then schedule all of them for one day. That way you only have to clean up craft mess once and can devote a greater chunk of time to creating your masterpiece instead of hurrying on to the next thing.

(4) Be Selective

Just because your curriculum gives you a list of ten crafts does not mean you need to make all of them. Choose the ones that will give you the most bang for the buck – those that will reinforce what you’re studying and will be the most fun! Only you know what will excite and interest your children.

(5) Table Cover

You’re going to want a cover on your table. Crafts will be much more fun if you’re not worried about the inevitable paint and hot glue spills (plus the cleanup will be quicker and easier)! Keep a plastic tablecloth stored away with all your craft supplies. That way you know exactly where it is when it’s time for crafts and you don’t have to tear your house up looking for it.

(6) Old T-Shirts

Instead of using dad’s old t-shirts for rags, hold onto them for craft time. They’re perfect for painting and more economical than purchasing a smock! Keep them stored away with your table cover and other craft supplies.

(7) Stock up

Keep an eye on the sales fliers for your local craft stores. Be sure to stock up when key items go on sale, such as paint, sketch paper, foam, ribbon, sponge brushes, jumbo craft sticks, etc.

(8) Reuse/Recycle

Don’t throw away those toilet paper or wrapping paper rolls, coffee cans, or oatmeal boxes. They can be used for all sorts of creations: castles, drums, kaleidoscopes, horns, etc.

(9) Have fun!

Doing crafts with your children is not about perfection, but about giving them an opportunity to express themselves through the hands-on medium of art. So get your paint brushes, roll up your sleeves, and prepare for some creative fun with your children!

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